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Our results take us closer to realising these benefits and specifically address the most important infectious disease problem for the pig industry worldwide

Alan Archibald

In Europe alone, the disease is estimated to cost the pig industry more than €1.5 billion each year. Scientists used gene-editing technology to treat a number of animals. They say early tests have revealed that cells from the pigs are completely resistant to infection with both major subtypes of the virus that causes the disease.

Lead researcher Professor Alan Archibald, from the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Genome-editing offers opportunities to boost food security by reducing waste and losses from infectious diseases, as well as improving animal welfare by reducing the burden of disease.

"Our results take us closer to realising these benefits and specifically address the most important infectious disease problem for the pig industry worldwide."

SWNS

The disease is estimated to cost the pig industry in Europe more than 1.5 billion Euro each year

Previous studies have shown that the PRRS virus targets immune cells called macrophages. A molecule on the surface of these cells called CD163 plays a key role in enabling the PRRS virus to establish an infection.

The research team at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, in collaboration with Genus, used a gene-editing tool called to cut out a small section of the CD163 gene in the pigs' DNA code. Laboratory tests of cells from the pigs with the modified gene then confirmed that this change in the pig's DNA blocks the virus from being able to cause infection.

Scientists said the next stage in their study will be to test whether the pigs are resistant to infection when exposed to the virus. Jonathan Lightner, Chief Scientific Officer for Genus, said: "This result furthers the case for the criticality of CD163 in PRRSv infection and demonstrates that a targeted removal of the viral interacting domain can confer resistance while the reminder of the protein is present.

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Scientists said next stage in the study will be testing if the pigs are resistant when exposed

"This, and other gene edits, will be evaluated as Genus advances the development of gene editing to confer PRRSv resistance.

"Genus is committed to pioneering the responsible application of technology to animal genetic improvement to enhance the well-being of animals, the livelihoods of farmers, and the sustainable approach to producing food for a growing global population."

The study, published in the journal Plos Pathogens, was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research (BBSRC), Animal Health Research Club and Genus. Scientists from The Pirbright Institute also contributed to the research.